VICE has signed a worldwide license deal on Jason Loftus’ Eternal Spring (長春): The Heist of China’s Airwaves. This is complemented by domestic deals with ARTE France/Germany, RTS Switzerland, VG Norway, Current Time (Russian-language, European Territories), and Al Jazeera Doc Channel (MENA), with more sales announcements to follow.
Sideways Film is repping world sales on the Canadian production on behalf of Lofty Sky Entertainment and director/producer Jason Loftus.
“This is an important movie that covers so many of the topics important to VICE – censorship, creativity, religious freedom and displacement – all done in some of the most exquisite animation I’ve ever seen. We’re lucky to have this one on our slate,” said Brendan Kennedy, VP Development VICE News.
Through the lens of celebrated comic book artist Daxiong (Justice League, Star Wars), Eternal Spring (長春) explores a daring plot by Falun Gong adherents in China to hack state television and expose a brutal repression.
On August 24, Telefilm Canada announced that the film will be Canada’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. It is the first documentary, the first animated film and the first Mandarin-language film to be chosen by Canada in this category.
The film will open theatrically in Canada on September 23 and at Film Forum in New York on October 14, with global theatrical roll-out to follow.
Eternal Spring (長春) has garnered more than a dozen festival awards since its March premiere at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, including the two top audience prizes at Hot Docs.
“Over the nearly six years of making Eternal Spring (長春), it’s always been our goal to share this incredible story with the widest audience possible,” commented director and producer Jason Loftus. “VICE’s ‘The Short List with Suroosh Alvi,’ presents an excellent slate of politically engaged docs and in depth conversations on an accessible platform. This, combined with our Fall theatrical release and international broadcasts, will provide the impact we are seeking for the film and its brave subjects.”
